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MFF is a celebration of nature, therefore we celebrate. Musical concerts, excursions to the Laurel Forest, drinking Madeira Wine, fashion shows plus much more are an integral part of the 6 day long festival.
Overview 2019 Edition.
Remit
The crux of the Madeira Film Festival is pay homage to the resilience of Madeira’s endemic Laurel Forest. a UNESCO world heritage site. A celebration of nature through the power of film our intention is to screen films which are unsettling & profound hopefully impinging upon the viewers imagination. We try to offer the delegate an experience through watching films, or participating in one of the events.
2019 8th Edition.
The eighth edition of MFF is rapidly approaching ! When we first started the festival our mantra was to screen films which deliberate the natural world in some capacity. Although we still screen films which a connotation with nature we have diversified and morphed over the years, now screening all genres and all durations. We take pride in offering a platform for filmmakers to exhibit their work.
Location
Madeira, an autonomous region of Portugal, is an archipelago comprising 4 islands off the northwest coast of Africa. It’s known for its namesake wine and warm, subtropical climate. The main island of Madeira is volcanic, green and rugged, with high cliffs, pebbly beaches and settlements on deltas of the Fajã River. Capital Funchal has botanic gardens and is known for its harbor and a large New Year’s fireworks show.
Submissions.
The Madeira Film Festival accepts submissions via various platforms. Please click on your preferred medium below. Three nights hotel accommodation are provided for exhibiting filmmakers with the opportunity to present your film in historic Municipal Theatre in Funchal. We offer a complimentary festival and workshop pass to all filmmakers. The MFF team looks forward to receiving your work.
About MFF & Submission Platforms.
7 years of independent film.
Fiercely Independent.
The Madeira Film Festival is non competitive, as opposed to filmmakers vying for the ‘best’ film, each attending delegate will become the Ambassador of the Laurissilva Forest ( an endemic species of trees found on Madeira. We attempt to screen impinging films to both a local audience and island visitors, should the exhibiting filmmaker be present the audience may have the opportunity to journey further into the film via a Q and A session. The festival has now completed it’s 7th edition with many previous guests returning. We are a small, intimate festival but relationships both personal and industrial are forged easily by virtue of the location. MFF also presents various events which compliment the week including fashion, plays, gala dinner and excursions to the Laurissilva Forest. 
Facts And Figure About MFF
An intimate festival where friends and business contacts are easily forged
6
Days of festivities, films, events, parties an workshops annually.
2
Screening venues : Teatro Municipal & NOS Forum Madeira.
250
Since it’s inception MFF has screened over 250 films.
7
Years of independent film
Testimonials
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On April 30th I arrived into Madeira to perform for Madeira’s first Film Festival.
On April 30th I arrived into Madeira to perform for Madeira’s first Film Festival. On arrival, I was graciously welcomed by Aitken and Federica, from the Film Festival. The next day, I had the day off to take in the natural beauty of the Island. It’s magical. I went for a swim in the ocean, took a stroll around the beautiful gardens and had lunch by the pool at the Hotel I was staying at, The Reid’s Palace Hotel, it’s magnificent! I had the honor of meeting President Jardim of Madeira at the “meet and greet” cocktail event for the film festival before the concert. The concert was in a beautiful theater and the crowd was welcoming and energizing. I was very proud to be part of this film festival with a unique focus on the ecology. I want to especially thank Isabel Dantas and Aitken Pearson for inviting me to such a special event. It was my great honor and pleasure to be there to celebrate their first Film Festival and look forward to going back soon. Kyle Eastwood
Kyle Eastwood -
There’s something special about islands, isn’t there?
A unique feeling of solitude, a deeply ingrained sense of security and an exotic charm that only comes from being surrounded on all sides by the ocean. The island of Madeira is situated in the Atlantic, north-west of the Canary Islands and close enough to Africa to ensure great weather all year round. My trip to the island’s capital, Funchal was timed to coincide with the 5th annual Madeira Film Festival. An eclectic mix of independent films alongside Hollywood’s finest were among the treats in store at the Municipal Theatre, a gorgeous historic building in the capital’s old town.
Scottish Field -
Dedicated to the preservation of the Madeira’s indigenous Laurisilva forest,
Dedicated to the preservation of the Madeira’s indigenous Laurisilva forest, the festival highlighted 17 feature films and 39 shorts from across the globe — all accompanied by glass after glass of the island’s namesake Madeira wine. (Madeira wine actually has strong roots in America; the Founding Fathers had a particular affinity for it, even using it to toast the Declaration of Independence.) A non-competitive event, where each entrant receives an award dedicated to their role in preserving Madeira’s forest, the festival showcases a series of mostly independent films that focus on nature. As the festival founder Aitken Pearson said, “it’s not merely about the premier of the latest film — it’s a celebration of nature.”
Huffington Post
Enabling an experience
While esteeming the natural world
Community
The Madeira Film Festival (MFF) is nonprofit organization whose mission is to encourage and celebrate the art of film by creating a dynamic forum for artistic, social and cultural awareness within Madeira’s local community.
We stive to achieve this by :
Dom Duarte Pio de Bragança
The Madeira Film Festival is most humbled and honoured that Dom Duarte Duke of Braganza has accepted to be the festivals patron.
Dom Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza is a claimant to the Portuguese throne, as the head of the House of Braganza. The Miguelist Braganzas, to whom Duarte Pio belongs as great-grandson of King Miguel I, is a cadet branch of the House of Braganza
Film Festival Tourism
5 Reasons to attend MFF
- An International annual film event staged on the number 1 island destination in the world.
- Exceptional views and locations.
- A small and intimate festival where friends and business contacts are easily forged.
- One of the most safe and secure destinations worldwide
- Approximately 3 hours from major European hubs.
Meet the team
Hope to see you soon!
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Aitken Pearson
CEO & Founder
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Pedro Pao
Distribution Correspondence
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Elsa Gouveia
Festival Manager
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Daniel Wallner
Technical Assistant
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Isabel Dantas
Festival Producer
